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Plantronics Explorer 390

The body is 4.5x1.5x2cm and the total weight is 11grams. The figure I gave do not include the covered wire hook that sits behind the ear include this and the 4.5cm height can increase to 8cm.

It works with almost any Bluetooth phone and is specifically designed for in car use where noise, wind and echo can be problems. During my tests – even with windows wound down – I was able to hear the other party clearly and they never asked me to repeat anything I said. What more can you ask for a mobile conversation made whilst moving.

My most difficult job was using the industrial scissors to cut open the plastic packaging that seems to be favourite with so many manufacturers.

Four sides of the forty eight page Getting started guide are in English. The back of the unit has call control button in silver but as the face of the unit is in the ear the colour is immaterial as you will be pressing it by feel. The only other control is the volume control on the side this is matched by a dummy button opposite so you pinch the sides to alter the volume. This allows you to fit the unit in either ear and just press the sides of it to operate.

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There are indicator LED’s on the face used to check the battery reserve but you would need to remove it from your ear to view these. You press and hold the volume button one flash more than 2/3 available. Two flashes 1/3 to 2/3 and three flashes less than 1/3, simple. A full charge either from car or USB takes two hours. Both chargers are supplied and a micro USB socket is on the base of the unit.

Doing my Internet searches found the Plantronics Explorer 390 at a best price of £32.49 including free delivery from the first link below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0025WPNW6?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.plantronics.com/europe_union/en_GB/products/mobile/bluetooth-headsets/explorer-390

Jabra BT2080

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This unit is even lighter at only 7grams it is 5x1.5x2, the covered wire hook to go behind the ear increases the first figure by 2cm. The earplug fits in such a way that the earhook can be totally disconnected if you wish to.

This unit comes in a more conventional box (made of clear plastic) and thus no industrial scissors are required.

There are five buttons on various parts of the body but only two are available when in ear. The micro USB socket is on top of the unit and a 13amp charger is provided.

There is a silver strip down the back and this is the answer/end button. The only other control access able when in ear is the volume control on the side of the unit. Which side depends on which ear and it has a see saw action to increase of decrease volume.

As with the unit above there is a light indication when you tap the volume button (again you can only see it when out of ear) green means more than ten minutes of talk time and red less than ten minutes.

This is more of a general purpose unit and although I did use it in car the noise reduction was not as good as the unit above.

Doing my Internet searches found the Jabra (Wireless Made Easy) Easy Series BT2080 at a best price of £17.95 from the first link below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002G1Y07A?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.jabra.com/Sites/Jabra/uk-uk/Headsets/Pages/JabraBT2080.aspx